Folding tent



Sept. 25, 1962 E. A. BENKA ETAL 3,055,380

FOLDING TENT 3 Sheets-Sheei 1 Filed 001;. 2, 1959 Eugene A. Ben/r0Lawrence E. Korea/r1 INVENTORS 9 BY m.

E. A. BENKA ETAL Sept. 25, 1962 FOLDING TENT 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct.2, 1959 gi le a 8 A e w E United States Patent Ofifice Patented Sept.25, 1962 3,655,386 FQZLDING TENT Eugene A. Benita, 1835 W. Rogers St.,Milwaukee, Wis, and Lawrence E. Kotecki, Milwaukee, Wis. (13045 W. VanNorman Ave, New Berlin, Wis.)

Filed Oct. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 843,996 Claims. (Cl. 135-1) The presentinvention generally relates to a tent structure and more particularly toa portable and foldable tent.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a foldable andcollapsible tent which renders the tent portable and will provideadequate protection from rain, sun, insects and may provide cover andprotection around a picnic table and generally may be employed for anyuse for which a tent is adapted.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable andfoldable tent which will collapse into an extremely small compact unitfor ease of portability and which incorporates several novel featuresfor facilitating ease of setting up and collapsing and providing asturdy dependable tent structure.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a folding tentwhich is simple in construction, easy to fold, easy to unfold, lightweight, sturdy in construction, adapted for many uses and generallyinexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the tent of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the tent frame with the tent coverremoved with portions thereof broken away for clarity;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the tent frame in collapsed condition;

FIGURE 4 is a detailed sectional view through one side portion of thetent illustrating the relationship of the tent cover and frame;

FIGURE 5 is a detailed plan view of the juncture between the top memberof the tent frame and one of the side rails;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevational view of the construction of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is an end view of the construction of FIG- ure 5;

FIGURE 8 is a detailed sectional view of one of the legs illustratingthe structure of the lock mechanism for the telescopic legs;

FIGURE 9 is a detailed sectional view taken substantially upon a planepassing along section line 99 of FIGURE 8 illustrating furtherstructural details of the leg lock;

FIGURE 10 is a detailed sectional view through the connection betweenthe leg members and the side rails;

FIGURE 11 is a detailed sectional view through one I of the leg membersat the lower end thereof illustrating the construction thereof;

FIGURE 12 is a sectional view illustrating the manner of attaching thetent cover to the tent frame; and

FIGURE 13 is a detailed sectional view of the connection between the legand braces.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generallydesignates the tent of the present invention which includes a tent covergenerally designated by the numeral 12 and a tent frame generallydesignated by the numeral 14 and which is illustrated in detail in FIG-URE 2.

The tent frame includes a generally rectangular frame member designatedby the numeral 16, a transverse generally inverted U-shaped center framemember designated by the numeral 18 and corner legs generally designatedby the numeral 26. The rectangular frame 16 includes sectional siderails 22 and the sections of the side rails 22 are hingedlyinterconnected and connected to the ends of the center frame member 18by a bracket generally designated by the numeral 24. The outer ends ofthe sectional side rails 22 extend inwardly towards each other insections 26 and are telescopically engaged with a central section 28which cooperate with the sections 26 to form end rails of the frame 16.The center frame member 18 includes end sections 30 and a centralsection 32 telescopically received in the facing ends of the sections30. The outer ends of the outer sections 30 extend downwardly insubstantially L-shaped configuration as designated by the numeral 34 forconnection to the brackets 24.

Each corner of the frame 16 is provided with an anchor eye bolt 36 towhich is connected a chain 38 which extends to and is connected to thecenter of the central section 32 of the top cross frame 18 whichconnection may be by virtue of an eye bolt 40 or the like.

Adjacent each end of the side rail 22, there is provided a sleeve 42 towhich the adjacent cooperating corner leg 29 is pivoted. Each corner leg20 includes an upper section 44 and a plurality of telescopic lowersections 46 and 48 with the lowermost section 4-8 having a cap or foot50 thereon constructed of resilient material or the like for engaging asupporting surface. The upper end of the upper section 44 is providedwith a sleeve 52 secured thereto by anchor members such as rivets 54(FIG. 10) with the diametrically opposed upper end portions of thesleeve 52 extending upwardly in slightly diverging relation as flangesor ears designated by the numeral 56 which have inwardly projectingindentations or projections 58 therein which engage with correspondingindentations 60 and 62 in the sleeve 42 and side rail member 22 whichnot only provides a latching effect for the corner legs but also locksthe sleeve 42 longitudinally on the rail member 22. The forward edges ofthe sleeve-straddling flanges 56 are positively and pivotally connectedto the sleeve 42 by a hinge pin 64 or the like which may also serve toanchor the sleeve 42 in its intended position. Thus, the spring flanges56 and the indentations 58 therein serve to form a snap lock for thelegs 20 for retaining the legs 20 in extended relation with the legs ateach end extending downwardly in diverging relation to the legs at theother ends as illustrated in FIGURE 2.

FIGURES 8 and 9 illustrate the structure for locking the lower legsection in longitudinally adjusted position which structure includes aslot 66 in the upper end portion of the lowermost section 48 and a plug68 disposed interiorly of the tubular lower section 48 at the upper endthereof with the plug 68 having a cam surface 70 facing the slot 66 forrollingly engaging a cam roller 72 which may have a knurled outersurface and which is disposed in captive relationship in the slot 66 asfar as longitudinal movement thereof is concerned. The periphery of theroller 72 may be knurled for engaging the inner surface of of the nextupper section 46 of the leg whereby relative rotation between thesections 48 and 46 will cause the roller 72 to selectively lock thesection 48 in adjusted relationship to the section 46, thereby enablinglongitudinal adjustment of the sections of the legs and locking of thelongitudinal adjustment in a secure manner at any point desired.

The lower end of the lowermost section 48 which has 3 the cap 50 thereonmay also be filled or partially filled with concrete 76 (FIG. 11) foradding weight to the bottom portion of the tent frame. Also, an eye bolt78 extends through the cap 50 and the lower end of the lower section 48and serves to retain the cap 50 in position which may also rely uponfriction or any other means for securing the cap in position. The bolt78 is provided with a laterally extending eye 80 for receiving a pointedground inserted stake 82 which has an eye 84 on the upper end thereofand which is inserted into the ground surface 86 for anchoring the legs20 in position.

The legs 20 are interconnected by brace member generally designated bythe numeral 88 which includes telescopic outer and inner sections 90 and92 with the outer section being rotatably connected with the legs 20 byconnection means 93 (FIG. 13).

FIGURES -7 illustrate the details of the bracket structure 24 forconnecting the sections of the side rails 22 to the outer sections 30 ofthe top rail or frame 18. The elbow-type down-turned ends 34 of thesections 30 are actually independent of the sections 30 and connectedthereto by fastening members 94. The lower ends of the depending members34 are received in socket-forming tubular sleeves 96 having an elongatedpin 98 extending through the lower end thereof and extending outwardlyof the sleeve 96.

Attached to each section of the sectional side rail 22 is asubstantially U-shaped bracket 100 and 102 which clips under thesections of the rail 22 on either side of the line of juncture betweenthe sections. The inner end of each U-shaped member 102 is provided withan upwardly and longitudinally extending pivot lug or ear 104 which arein transverse alignment with each other and through which the elongatedhinge pin or fastener 98 extends thus hingedly interconnecting thesections of the side rail 22, hingedly interconnecting the U-shapedbrackets 102 and 100 and hingedly attaching the brackets 100 and 102 andthe sections of the side rails 22 to the sleeve 96.

Rigidly afiixed to the bracket 100 is an arcuate plate 106 secured by afastening rivet 108 which also secures the bracket 100 to the section ofthe side rail. The U- shaped bracket 102 is also provided with anarcuate plate 110 secured to the section of the rail and to the bracket102 by a fastener 112 similar to fastener 108. The upper and inner edgesof the plates 106 and 110 overlap as illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6 whenthe sections of the side rail 22 are in horizontal alignment with theseends of the plates 106 and 110 having an aperture 114 therein forreceiving the end of a spring loaded pin 116 which is provided with aneye 118 on the inner end thereof which is disposed inwardly of thesleeve 96 whereby the pin 116 may be retracted from engagement with thealigned apertures 114. A coil spring 120 is disposed within the sleeve96 and has one end engaging the inner surface of the sleeve 96 and theother end engaging an abutment 122 on the pin 116 thus urging the freeend of the pin 116 into engagement with the apertures 114. When the pin114 is retracted, the sections of the rail 22 cannot move downwardlyabout pivot pin 98 due to the abutting ends of the brackets 100 and 102.However, upward movement of the sections of the side rails 22 may beaccomplished and the plates 106 and 110 will further overlap each otherand pass downwardly in relation to the rails 22 whereby additionalapertures 124 are provided in each plate 106 and 110 which are alignedwith the pin 116 when the sections of the side rail 22 are disposed inalignment and adjacent relation as illustrated when the tent frame iscollapsed as shown in FIGURE 3.

Thus, the spring pin 116 will lock the frame 16 in extended position asillustrated in FIGURE 2 and will permit collapsing thereof and foldingthereof for subsequent locking in a folded condition.

The cover 12 includes a top member 126 having a depending skirt portion128 which receives the frame 16.

The top 126 includes a ridge portion 129 and a relatively small gableend portion 130 for conforming to the top cross frame 18 with the gable130 providing vertical height to the top 126. The top 126 is connectedto the frame 16 by a plurality of loop members 132 (FIG. 12) in the formof straps which have one end thereof anchored to the cover by virtue ofstitching 134 and having the other end detachably connected thereto asby snap fastener assembly 136 thereby wrapping around the side rail 22and detachably connecting the cover 126 to the frame 16 with the flanges128 depending on the outer surface thereof and concealing the variousstructural features of the framework and especially the frame 16.

Depending from the frame 16 are curtain-like side panels 138 which areformed of panels that may be detachably connected to form an entranceopening 140 in a conventional manner. The upper ends of the panels 138are connected to and drape the side and end rails of the frame 16 byvirtue of releasable suspension hooks 142 which extend through grommets144 in the upper ends of the panels 138. The hook shaped members 142slidably engage the frame 16 and are somewhat in the nature of a meansfor supporting a shower curtain from a shower rod. The panels 138 arepreferably constructed of a screen mesh material designated by thenumeral 146 with the lower edge of the material 146 being weighted as at148 and engaging the ground surface for conforming the lower edge of thecover to the ground surface and preventing entry of insects or the like.

The canopy or top is preferably constructed of a light weight waterproofand sunproof material such as canvas or the like. The concrete in thelegs serve as weights for preventing shifting of the legs and the crosstubing is adjustable and will act as a drying rack for articles such asbathing trunks, towels or the like. All of the telescopic elements ofthe frame may be locked in adjusted position with a lock such as the leglock as illustrated in FIG. 8. Referring now specifically to FIGURES 8and 13 of the drawings, the connection 93 between the brace 88 and theleg 20 includes a reduced area or portion 150 on the leg section 46which is outwardly flared at the lower end as indicated by numeral 152.This structure relatively captures a split sleeve 154 which has spacedlugs 156 projecting from one side thereof. Mounted on the outer end ofthe brace section 90 is a cap 158 retained in position by a transversepin 160. The cap 158 is provided with a longitudinally extending lug 162received between the legs 156 and pivotally connected thereto by atransverse pin or rivet 164.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A portable folding framework for a space enclosing covering embodyinga protective weatherproof canopy and cooperable curtain wallscomprising: a horizontal rectangular top frame embodying a pair ofduplicate coplanar companion half-sections each U-shaped in plan andembodying spaced limbs joined at corresponding outward ends by a bightportion, said bight portion being extensible and contractible andpermitting said limbs to be adjusted toward and from each other, theinward ends of the limbs of the half-sections being joined together byhinges having horizontal axes, an extensible and retrac- 7Q tibleinverted U-shaped canopy elevating member having 75 the respectivehinges, and at least one arm being provided with a spring-loaded latchpin releasably engageable with keeper holes provided therefor on theadjacent hinge, and supporting legs, one for each corner of said frame,said legs being foldable against the half-sections when saidhalf-sections have been collapsed and folded together with said ridgepole member therebetween, said legs being extensible and contractibleand having their upper ends permanently hinged to their respectivecorner portions, none of the parts of the overall framework beingdetachable and the framework, thus unified, being easy to erect andcollapse with no parts capable of being lost or misplaced.

2. The structure according to claim 1, and in combination, horizontalcross-braces interposed between each companion pair of legs, saidcross-braces embodying telescoping components, being extensible andcontractible and permanently bracketed to their respectively intendedlegs.

3. The structure defined in claim 1, and wherein the lower end of eachleg is weighted and provided with a foot-forming cap held in place by aneye-bolt piercing the cap and leg, the accessible eye of said eye-boltadapted to accommodatingly hold a ground anchoring spike.

4. The structure according to claim 1 and wherein the inner ends of thelegs at the locale of said adjacent hinge are provided with a pair ofupstanding segmental flat rigidly attached plates which are overlappedand pro vided with alignable selectively usable keeper holes for saidlatch pin.

5. A portable folding framework for a tent-forming covering comprising ahorizontal frame embodying adjustable U-shaped half-sections havinglimbs whose inner adjacent ends are hingedly joined, leg attachingsleeves encircling and fixed on the respective limbs adjacent thecorners of the frame, foldable frame supporting legs for the cornerportions of the frame, said legs being made up of telescoping upper,lower and intermediate sections, the upper section of each leg having afixed connecting sleeve thereon below and at an angle to the cooperatingattaching sleeve on the adjacent limb, said connecting sleeve havingupstanding ears straddling and pivoted on the attaching sleeve, bothsleeves having coacting detents, the lower section being internallyweighted and having a fixed hold-down eye available for an anchoringspike, the lower and intermediate sections being tubular and having aself-contained rotary friction lock for adjusting and retaining thesections in a set relationship.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,888,972 Chittirn Nov. 29, 1932 1,900,335 Del Vecchio Mar. 7, 19332,015,321 Shelton Sept. 24, 1935 2,134,879 Levy Nov. 1, 1938 2,153,547Charlop et a1 Apr. 11, 1939 2,185,629 Dixon Jan. 2, 1940 2,265,479Goodman Dec. 9, 1941 2,838,351 Siconolfi et a1. June 10, 1958

